[FR] Master Alchemist PrC- worth it?

[Kershek]

What do people think of the Master Alchemist from Magic of Faerun? Is it worthwhile taking this PrC for the ability to make potions higher than 3rd level? Or is it a waste because the amount of money it would cost to make such items overweighs the usefulness?

How about the multiple potions per day? By the time you're high enough level to get that ability, do you find you don't need potions as much? Personally, I haven't played with characters higher than 7th level, so I'm not sure how well this would work for the higher levels.

 

[Crothian]

I think it makes a great NPC class. By the time your PCs get there it would be better to spend that gold and XP for permant magical items.

 

[Kershek]

It sounds cool to be able to make potions of Stoneskin, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Polymorph Self, Passwall, Mass Haste, Tenser's Transformation, etc., so that anyone can use them. Anyone else think it is or isn't worth the cost?

 

[Squire James]

I'm guessing that certain spells will be very useful things to make potions for. It's also somewhat of a DM's nightmare. Improved Invisibility. Persistent Shield. Antimagic Field (aka Fighter's Delight). Persistent Shield. Shapechange. Persistent Shield.

 

[Omegium]

One thing I didn't like about it is that it gives players the right to buy potions of high lvl, like a potion of time stop, anti magic field or the like. You can't use the "there are no master alchimist around" excuse forever.

 

[Storm Raven]

One thing I didn't like about it is that it gives players the right to buy potions of high lvl, like a potion of time stop, anti magic field or the like. You can't use the "there are no master alchimist around" excuse forever.

Unless you are in Faerun why not? They are in an optional Faerun specific supplement, so including them in any other type of campaign is entirely up to the DM.

 

[The Sigil]

What about...

One thing I didn't like about it is that it gives players the right to buy potions of high lvl, like a potion of time stop, anti magic field or the like. You can't use the "there are no master alchimist around" excuse forever.

What about the "Feh! I certainly wouldn't sell my masterpieces to YOU!" excuse? Imagine a master alchemist who thinks of his creations as children (eccentric to be sure, but you get the idea) and is overly protective - sure, there are master alchemists, but they're not selling stuff.

--The Sigil

 

[MythandLore]

I think it makes a great NPC class. By the time your PCs get there it would be better to spend that gold and XP for permant magical items.

I have to agree with Crothian.

What do people think of the Master Alchemist from Magic of Faerun? Is it worthwhile taking this PrC for the ability to make potions higher than 3rd level? Or is it a waste because the amount of money it would cost to make such items overweighs the usefulness?

How about the multiple potions per day? By the time you're high enough level to get that ability, do you find you don't need potions as much? Personally, I haven't played with characters higher than 7th level, so I'm not sure how well this would work for the higher levels.

The potions can be okay though.
The multiple potions per day power is not that great at higher levels because of the cost limit, up tp 1000gp when using the ability, so you can only do weak potions with it.
But the higher level potions are good, and potions always take one day to brew, unlike other more costly items, you do need a place to make them though.
The disadvantage being, potions always take one day to brew.
So if your going to make you highest level spell into a potion it's not to bad, say if you only have one 7th level slot, it's almost like letting you have an extra spell by wasting a day, the disadvantage is you just wasted a day and the even worse thing is if you make a potion of a spell you can cast more then once a day, you really wasted a day big time.
Remeber scrolls are even cheaper to make though and they can be any level spell, but their big drawback is you need to be able to cast spells to use them.

Here is a question though...
Would a PrC that lets you make wands at higher then normal levels, a 'Master Wandmaker' like the Master Alchemist, would that be balanced?